April 24, 2011

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
South Carolina wins SEC series at Mississippi State

Virginia nips NC State, Texas A&M sweeps Oklahoma State, Vandy tops LSU

In Starkville, Miss., Christian Walker (right) went 4 for 4 with a homer, three runs and four RBI as second-ranked South Carolina won its SEC series against Mississippi State with a 13-4 win on Sunday in front of 5,821 spectators at Polk-Dement Stadium. The Gamecocks (14-4, 31-8) trailed 3-2 after three before scoring four in the fourth and five in the fifth to take control. Jake Williams went 4 for 6 with two RBI, while Brady Thomas went 3 for 4 with a triple, two runs and four RBI for South Carolina. Ryan Collins went 3 for 4 with one RBI for the Bulldogs. John Taylor (3-1, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K) earned the win in relief.

No. 1 Virginia 7, NC State 6

In Charlottesville, Va., Mitchell Shifflett went 2 for 3 with two runs and one RBI as Virginia edged NC State in front of 3,452 fans at Davenport Field to win its 13th straight ACC series. The Cavaliers (18-3, 40-4) scored four in the second and never lost the lead in becoming the first Division I squad to reach 40 wins. Virginia has reached 40 victories for the seventh time in the past Chris Taylor, John Barr, John Hicks and Steven Proscia each had two hits and one RBI for UVa. Harold Riggins went 4 for 4 with two runs, while Andrew Ciencin went 3 for 4 with a homer for the Wolfpack (9-12, 24-18). Kyle Crockett (3-0, 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 K) earned the win in relief, while Branden Kline (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K) recorded his 13th save.

No. 7 Texas A&M 8, No. 15 Oklahoma State 1

In College Station, Texas, Ross Stripling allowed one run over eight innings as Texas A&M completed the Big 12 sweep of Oklahoma State in front of 2,786 fans at Olsen Field. Stripling (8-2) allowed six hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The Aggies (14-4, 29-11) broke a 1-1 tie with five in the sixth as Matt Juengel had a two-run single and Kevin Gonzalez added a three-run homer. Tyler Naquin (3 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI) was a double short of the cycle. Krey Bratsen went 3 for 5 with two runs. Jared Womack went 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Cowboys (10-8, 28-12).

No. 3 Vanderbilt 10, LSU 7

In Nashville, Tenn., Conrad Gregor had a two-run homer in a six-run third as Vanderbilt completed the SEC series sweep of LSU in front of a crowd of 2,706 at Hawkins Field. The game was tied at 1 before the outburst in the third by the Commodores (14-4, 35-5). Gregor went 4 for 5 with two runs. Jack Lupo was 4 for 4 with three runs and one RBI, while Anthony Gomez went 4 for 6 with one run and three RBI for Vanderbilt. Trey Watkins had two hits, two walks and three runs, while Raph Rhymes, Austin Nola and Alex Edwards each drove in two for the Tigers (4-14, 24-17). Taylor Hill (3-0, 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K) got the win, while Navery Moore walked one and struck out one in the ninth for his ninth save.

No. 5 Florida 2, Alabama 1

In Gainesville, Fla., Nolan Fontana had three hits and drove in both runs as Florida completed its SEC sweep of Alabama in front of 2,759 fans at McKethan Stadium. Fontana had a RBI double in the third and a run-scoring single in the fifth as the Gators (14-4, 31-10) took a 2-0 lead. Brett Booth delivered a RBI single in the top of the seventh as the Crimson Tide (8-10, 25-18) pulled to within one. Austen Smith (2 for 4) and Brandt Hendricks both had one-out singles in the top of the ninth for Alabama. Nick Maronde took over on the mound and got a game-ending double play to earn his second save. Starter Karsten Whitson (5-0, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 7 K) recorded the win. Mike Zunino had two hits, including a double, for Florida.

No. 11 Florida State 13, Duke 9

In Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State fell behind 8-4 in the second before using a six-run seventh to rally past Duke and complete the ACC sweep in front of a crowd of 3,971 at Dick Howser Stadium. Jayce Boyd went 3 for 4 with two runs and four RBI, while Sherman Johnson drove in three for the Seminoles (14-7, 31-10). Mike McGee (2 for 4) and James Ramsey (3 for 4, 1 RBI) both scored three for FSU. Chris Marconcini went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI for the Blue Devils (4-17, 20-23). Jeff Kremer had two hits, two walks and three runs for Duke. Mack Waugh (2-1, 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K) earned the win in relief, while Daniel Bennett got the final out for his sixth save.

No. 12 Georgia Tech 10, Boston College 8

In Atlanta, Georgia Tech scored five in the second and held on to complete the ACC sweep of Boston College in front of 1,216 fans at Russ Chandler Stadium. Andrew Lawrence (3 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBI) had a run-scoring single in the top of the second to give the Eagles (6-14, 14-23) an early lead. Mott Hyde had a two-run single and Matt Skole knocked in two with a double in a five-run second as the Yellow Jackets (17-4, 30-11) took the lead for good. Kyle Wren had a two-run triple in a three-run third as Tech built an 8-3 lead. Jacob Esch, Sam Dove and Daniel Palka each had two hits and two runs for the Jackets. Matt McGovern had two hits and three RBI, while Brad Zapenas had three hits, including two doubles, two runs and one RBI for BC.

No. 13 North Carolina 8, Miami (Fla.) 1

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Kent Emanuel went the distance as North Carolina salvaged the finale of its ACC series with Miami in front of 1,418 onlookers at Boshamer Stadium. Emanuel (6-1) allowed nine hits over nine innings with one run, one walk and four strikeouts. The Tar Heels (13-8, 32-10) scored three in the first and two in the second to take control. Colin Moran and Jacob Stallings both had two hits, one run and one RBI for UNC. Brad Fieger went 2 for 4, while Rony Rodriguez drove in the lone run for the Hurricanes (15-5, 27-13).

Kentucky 3-1, No. 16 Arkansas 1-4

In Lexington, Ky., Luke Maile had a two-run homer in the fourth in the completion of the suspended game as Kentucky won its SEC series with a doubleheader split with Arkansas at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The teams attempted to play two on Saturday, but the nightcap was halted in the bottom of the third with no score. The blast by Maile put the Wildcats (4-14, 19-22) ahead for good. Collin Kuhn had a RBI double in the sixth as the Razorbacks (9-9, 28-11) pulled to within one. Thomas McCarthy (2 for 4) singled in an insurance run in the eighth for UK. Corey Littrell (5-3, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K) earned the win, while Trevor Gott fanned the final two hitters for his second save. In the nightcap, Trent Daniel (2-0) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief with two hits, two walks and five strikeouts in a five-inning contest halted by rain. James McCann went 2 for 2 with one run and one RBI, while Kyle Atkins had two hits and a run for Arkansas. Matt Reida went 2 for 2 and drove in a run for the Wildcats.

(photo by Jimmy Jones)